News

07/01/2009
The end of 2008 saw Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC), Mudpie Ltd and mode…information Thailand team up to bring the Thai Textile and Fashion Industry its most informative Business Seminar to date.

CHINA: Textile firms see profit fall 1.8% in 11 months

05/01/2009
Chinese textile firms have seen their profits drop for the first time in a decade, according to state media reports last week, after the global financial crisis led to lower demand for their products.

JAPAN: Uniqlo same-store sales surge 10.3% in December

05/01/2009
Fast Retailing Co today (5 January) said December same-stores sales at its Uniqlo chain in Japan jumped by 10.3% year on year, shrugging off a slowdown in its domestic market for the second month in a row.

UK: 850 jobs axed as Adams Childrenswear closes stores

05/01/2009
Five days after calling in the administrators, Adam's Childrenswear today (5 January) shut 111 stores with the loss of around 850 jobs.

UK: Blooming Marvellous on verge of collapse?

05/01/2009
Maternity chain Blooming Marvellous is the latest UK clothing retailer reported to be in trouble, with newspaper reports at the weekend suggesting it could be about to call in the administrators.

UK: Chester Barrie launches wholesale collection

05/01/2009
Savile Row men's wear brand Chester Barrie is to return to the wholesale market this month with the launch of a full collection for autumn/winter 09, targeted at luxury retailers and top-end department stores.

UK: John Lewis sales rise 2.4% over holiday period

05/01/2009
Same-store sales at John Lewis were flat over the key Christmas and early clearance trading period, the department store retailer said today (5 January), but cautioned that the next few months are likely to be "extremely tough."

UK: Liberty says December sales exceed expectations

05/01/2009
Up-market London department store Liberty Plc has released an encouraging trading update in which it said sales for the first 10 months of its financial year were ahead of last year, and that December's results "exceeded expectations."

UK: Mosaic Fashions in talks with lenders - paper

05/01/2009
Mosaic Fashions, owner of the Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen brands, is reported to be in talks with its lenders after some of its suppliers started demanding up-front payments.

US: Global cotton trade to fall by 12% in 2008/09

05/01/2009
Global cotton imports are expected to fall by 12% to 7.3m tons in 2008/09, the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) says, as consumption is hit by a slowdown in economic growth in 2009.

US: Tarrant Apparel and America Rag settle lawsuit

05/01/2009
Apparel maker Tarrant Apparel Group has settled litigation with American Rag Cie relating to a license to sell branded apparel at Macy's.

FRANCE: Receiver sets deadline for Morgan takeover bids

02/01/2009
French fashion retailer Morgan went into administration last week (24 December), a decision thought to reflect the strong interest being generated in the company.

JAPAN: Demand for luxury goods shrinking, says analyst

02/01/2009
The strength of the yen against the Euro has led to several European luxury brands announcing price reductions in Japan on top of those already imposed as demand dries up in the world's top luxury cash cow.

JAPAN: New swimsuit material to hit market

02/01/2009
Tokyo-based textile manufacturer Opelontex Co has developed the world's first cationic dye-dyeable polyurethane elastic fibre "LYCRA®fiber T-909B" for swimwear that shows improved strength against swim pool chlorine and an original yarn feature that means it stretches softly and shrinks quickly.

UK: JJB appoints Sir David Jones as executive chairman

02/01/2009
UK sportswear retailer JJB Sports has today (2 January) announced the appointment of Sir David Jones, currently its deputy chairman, to the role of executive chairman.

UK: Officers Club rescued despite store closures

02/01/2009
Men's wear retailer The Officers Club has been rescued by its former chief executive, despite going into administration shortly before Christmas.

UK: Store closures likely as Adams enters administration

02/01/2009
Retailer Adams Childrenswear has entered administration, putting more than 3,000 jobs at risk with a number of store closures likely.

UK: USC in administration, rescue planned - reports

02/01/2009
UK fashion retailer USC has joined a growing number of UK clothing retailers who have gone into administration this Christmas, according to media reports.

US: American Apparel names Kowalewski as CFO

02/01/2009
Fashion retailer American Apparel said Adrian Kowalewski has been appointed as its executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective immediately.

US: Delta Apparel appoints Cochran to board

02/01/2009
Branded and private label activewear apparel company Delta Apparel has announced the appointment of James "Al" Cochran to its board of directors.

US: Jones Apparel shares lift after credit revamp

02/01/2009
Shares in Jones Apparel Group rallied by as much as 41% after the company amended its existing US$1.25bn revolving credit facilities.

US: NexCen sells Bill Blass to Peacock for US$10m

02/01/2009
Peacock International Holdings has spent about US$10m in acquiring the Bill Blass licensing business from NexCen Brands.

COMMENT: What are the great apparel industry issues for 2009?

23/12/2008
Amid the welter of articles looking ahead at trade and business prospects for 2009, three issues dominate the apparel industry. Will anyone stop the slowdown in Western clothing markets? Will the collapse of input prices mean cheaper clothes? And what about US and EU protectionism? Mike Flanagan wonders just how important they really are.

Happy Christmas and New Year from just-style

23/12/2008
We've reached the end of another rollercoaster year here at just-style, and on behalf of the whole team I'd like to wish all our readers a peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

ITALY: Burani agrees La Perla ready-to-wear deal

23/12/2008
Mariella Burani Fashion Group has signed a license agreement with luxury brand La Perla to produce and distribute women's ready-to-wear collections.

ITALY: IT Holding meets banks over loan instalment

23/12/2008
Italian luxury fashion company IT Holding's management has met representatives of the group's major banks to discuss possible short-term actions aimed at giving financial support to the group.

US: Abercrombie & Fitch boss extends contract to 2014

23/12/2008
Fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch has agreed an extended deal to keep its CEO Michael S Jeffries at the company until 2014.

ZAMBIA: Swarp Spinning Mills up for sale

23/12/2008
Swarp Spinning Mills, one of Zambia's largest cotton spinners, is up for sale after calling in the receivers.

CHILE: Wal-Mart launches takeover bid for D&S group

22/12/2008
Supermarket giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc is launching a cash bid for Chilean supermarket group Distribucion y Servicio D&S SA, in a move that will give it a significant foothold in the South American market.

FINLAND: Marimekko expecting full-year profit downturn

22/12/2008
Finnish textile and fashion firm Marimekko Corporation is expecting full-year net sales growth to be lower than last year and profits to fall slightly, after a weak final quarter.

GERMANY: Hugo Boss COO Hans Fluri takes new post

22/12/2008
German fashion firm Hugo Boss said its COO Hans Fluri is to become chairman of parent group Red & Black Lux Sàrl.

JAPAN: Charle Co buyout bid collapses

22/12/2008
Japan's biggest door-to-door vendor of lingerie, Charle Co, says that a recent tender made by the firm's controlling family to buy out its management has collapsed.

UK: Don McCarthy steps down at Moss Bros

22/12/2008
Moss Bros Group has announced that Don McCarthy has stepped down as a non-executive director of the company.

US: American Apparel extends credit deadlines

22/12/2008
US fashion retailer American Apparel has extended the maturity of two of its credit facilities by three months, the company reports.

US: Files trade case at WTO against Chinese export subsidies

22/12/2008
The US government on Friday (19 December) said it had begun legal action at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to try to put a stop to various subsides provided by the Chinese government to help boost sales of Chinese-branded merchandise around the world.

CANADA: Morfitt appointed to Lululemon board

19/12/2008
Marti Morfitt has been appointed to the board of athletic wear company Lululemon, expanding its roster of directors to ten.

Christmas promises little festive cheer for apparel retailers

19/12/2008
The week ahead will find US retailers at the eye of the Christmas trading storm, with seven out of the ten top grossing days of the holiday season all occurring in the eight-day period from 19-26 December. Richard Woodard looks at what lies in store.

COMMENT: Will there be any cash left for 2009?

19/12/2008
You just couldn't make it up could you? Bernard Madoff's hedge fund attracted investments from some pretty respected sources but it was all a bit, as we like to say in England, dodgy. In fact, it was a gigantic fraud, all smoke and mirrors. And to cap it all, his surname is pronounced 'made off'.

UK: Alexandra cuts costs in face of downturn

19/12/2008
Uniform and workplace clothing specialist Alexandra plc has unveiled a four-pronged cost-cutting plan as the weak pound and worsening economic climate impact its results.

UK: Laura Ashley looks overseas as UK sales falter

19/12/2008
Retailer Laura Ashley is looking to Asia and the Middle East for growth as like-for-like sales from its UK stores fell by nearly 10% in the 20 weeks to 13 December.

US: Quiksilver underlying Q4 profit beats expectations

19/12/2008
Boardwear company Quiksilver posted a better than expected underlying profit of US$41.6m in the fourth quarter, boosted by double-digit sales growth in the Americas.

US: Sportswear sales slip is slower than in Europe

19/12/2008
The European market for athletic footwear and apparel is being hit harder by current economic challenges than its US counterpart, according to new figures released yesterday (18 December), with the downturn most noticeable in products intended for casual use.

US: TaylorMade-Adidas Golf cutting Ashworth jobs

19/12/2008
A month after its acquisition of lifestyle golf company Ashworth Inc, TaylorMade-Adidas Golf is downsizing the combined workforce of the two companies.

US: Unifi revises Q2 guidance as sales decline

19/12/2008
Yarn producer Unifi has downgraded its second quarter EBITDA guidance in the face of a pronounced drop in sales during October and November.

VIETNAM: Cotton processing plants shut as supplies dry up

19/12/2008
Three cotton processing plants in Vietnam's Central Highland region have been forced to shut down because they have not got enough cotton raw materials for production, said the country's National Textile and Garment group Vinatex.

FRANCE: Charles Jourdan rescued by two shoe firms

18/12/2008
French footwear importer Royer Group and shoe distributor Dyag have joined forces to buy the French operations of the Charles Jourdan brand.

GERMANY: Escada sees wider FY loss as sales dip 15%

18/12/2008
Luxury fashion group Escada expects to post a bigger loss for the 2007/8 fiscal year after unveiling a sales decline of 15.1% and a slump in EBITDA.

SPAIN: Desigual improves markdown process with Pathfinder

18/12/2008
Spanish based international fashion company Desigual has used Avery Dennison's new Pathfinder Ultra Platinum technology to help streamline its entire labelling process, from re-pricing garments sold in different countries to marking down sale items.

UK: Non-food sales down 0.3% in past three months

18/12/2008
UK retail sales volumes in the three months from September to November rose by 0.5% compared with the previous three months, but were led by food stores according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

UK: Topshop extends Kate Moss collaboration

18/12/2008
Supermodel Kate Moss has signed a new contract with fashion retailer Topshop, and will develop several new collections a year, including accessories and lingerie.

US: Adrenalina calls for meeting with PacSun boss

18/12/2008
Activewear retailer Adrenalina has sent a letter to takeover target Pacific Sunwear to seek a meeting with its CEO and chairman of the board, Sally Frame Kasaks, saying this would avoid a costly proxy fight.

US: Charlotte Russe nets exclusive People's Liberation deal

18/12/2008
Apparel retailer Charlotte Russe Holding has secured an exclusive deal to distribute and sell People's Liberation clothing in the company's stores in North and Central America.

US: FastTrack Sourcing helps scale private label programs

18/12/2008
A sourcing solution to help retailers get their private label programs up-and-running quickly has been released by Eqos.

US: ITG to combine Burlington and Cone Denim units

18/12/2008
International Textile Group Inc is realigning its Cone Denim and Burlington WorldWide divisions to create a single business group called ITG Apparel & Specialty Fabrics.

US: Macy's amends $2bn bank credit agreement

18/12/2008
Department stores retailer Macy's Inc has amended its $2bn bank credit facility to provide additional financial flexibility to weather economic downturn.

US: Nike buoyed by 9% hike in Q2 profit

18/12/2008
Sportswear giant Nike has recorded a 9% increase in second quarter profit to US$391m, boosted by strong performances in Asia Pacific and the Americas.

WORLD: Terrorism threats drive demand for military clothing

18/12/2008
The demand for military clothing, body armour and other military equipment has risen sharply, a recent report says, as a result of the need to protect soldiers in conflicts arising from the so-called war on terror - especially in Afghanistan and Iraq.

CHINA: Ever-Glory announces La Go Go store openings

17/12/2008
Chinese apparel company Ever-Glory International Group has announced the opening of 15 new La Go Go retail stores in the past six weeks.

INDIA: Textile slowdown to persist until December 2009 - report

17/12/2008
Recession in international markets, foreign exchange losses and high input costs are all going to combine to make 2009 a grim year for the Indian textile and apparel sector, a new report says.

UK: just-style to launch new buyers' guide to PLM

17/12/2008
A business information portal dedicated to PLM (product lifecycle management) software for the fashion and textile industry is being launched by just-style in the New Year.

UK: Leeds FY profit down 23% after "challenging" year

17/12/2008
Textile importer Leeds Group endured a challenging year, posting a 23.2% fall in full-year net profit to GBP449,000 (US$686,000).

UK: SDC launches new standard for gauging textile colour

17/12/2008
The Society of Dyers and Colourists (SDC) has developed a new standard that specifies the procedures to be used when preparing textile materials for visual colour assessment - and could help reduce delays and confusion in the supply chain.

UK: Sports Direct H1 underlying earnings up 7.4%

17/12/2008
A "back to basics" approach has helped retailer Sports Direct post a better-than-expected 7.4% rise in underlying earnings during the company's first half.

UK: Woolworths set to shut all 807 stores by January

17/12/2008
The administrators of UK retail chain Woolworths are to close all 807 of its stores by 5 January, with the loss of 27,000 jobs, failing a last minute bid for the business.

US: Christmas shoppers leave it late - survey

17/12/2008
Consumers are leaving it late this year with their holiday shopping, and are targeting discount and department stores, according to a new survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF).

US: Liz Claiborne suspends quarterly cash dividend

17/12/2008
Fashion firm Liz Claiborne Inc is to suspend its quarterly cash dividend indefinitely in an effort to enhance its financial flexibility in a tough retail environment.

US: Sorel to sponsor US snowboarding team

17/12/2008
Boot manufacturer Sorel has signed up to be the official boot sponsor of the US snowboarding team in the run-up to the 2010 Winter Olympics.

US: VF cuts "small number" of jobs to reduce costs

17/12/2008
Apparel maker VF Corp has laid off "a small number" of its workers from its jeanswear and services groups as it responds to the tough economic climate by trying to reduce costs.

COMMENT: Has the supply chain reached the end of the road?

16/12/2008
The purpose of supply chain management is to deliver a product in the shortest period of time and at the lowest cost. In reality, however, it substantially increases both delivery time and product costs, says David Birnbaum, because the supply chain concept is deeply flawed. Here he proposes a new approach to garment sourcing.

JAPAN: Mitsubishi, Aeon sign "business alliance"

16/12/2008
Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corp is to join forces with domestic retailer Aeon Co. in a "comprehensive business alliance" taking in distribution, procurement and the supply chain.

SRI LANKA: Textured Jersey invests in planning tool

16/12/2008
Textured Jersey Lanka, one of Sri Lanka's largest weft knit fabric manufacturers, has invested in the FastReact planning and management tool to help provide total visibility across the company.

UK: Private equity firm warns of bleak retail market in 2009

16/12/2008
Private equity firm Silverfleet Capital, the owner of discount department store TJ Hughes, is warning of a very bleak year for retailers generally in 2009, but says there will be lots of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the form of distressed purchases, refinancing and equity injections.

US: Adrenalina withdraws rejected bid for PacSun

16/12/2008
Pacific Sunwear of California has exchanged verbal blows with rival activewear company Adrenalina after it pulled out of an earlier buyout bid for PacSun but said it still intended to pursue "a strategic combination" with the company.

US: Charlotte Russe urged to reconsider buyout offer

16/12/2008
Women's fashion retailer Charlotte Russe Holding is being asked to reverse its rejection of a buyout bid for the company by one of its investors.

US: Gymboree to cut senior staff salaries to save costs

16/12/2008
US retailer The Gymboree Corporation is to cut the salaries of its senior management by 10-15% as it looks to reduce expenses in response to the downturn in consumer spending.

US: Rocky adds Mossy Oak footwear to line-up

16/12/2008
Footwear and apparel maker Rocky Brands Inc is building on a long-time relationship with Mossy Oak to become exclusive licensee of its branded footwear in North America.

US: Skins signs Australia, New Zealand distribution deal

16/12/2008
Footwear maker Skins Inc has signed a distribution deal for its two-part interchangeable shoes in Australia and New Zealand.

US: Wolverine appoints Hufnagel as retail president

16/12/2008
Footwear and apparel firm Wolverine World Wide has appointed Christopher E Hufnagel to the position of president of retail.

EGYPT: Arafa acquires 35% stake in Forall Confezioni

15/12/2008
Egypt-based apparel company Arafa Holding has signed an agreement for the acquisition of a 35% stake in Italian fashion firm Forall Confezioni for EUR25.3m (US$34.6m).

GERMANY: Arcandor posts disappointing FY loss at Karstadt

15/12/2008
The Arcandor Group, owner of Germany's largest department store chain, has reiterated its outlook for next year despite posting a loss for the 12 months to 30 September.

ISREAL: Tefron faces NY Stock Exchange suspension

15/12/2008
Apparel producer Tefron has been notified by the New York Stock Exchange that trading in its ordinary shares will be suspended effective prior to the opening of the market next week (22 December).

SWEDEN: H&M sales rise 7% during November

15/12/2008
Swedish fashion retailer H&M has posted a 7% rise in sales for the month of November.

UK: Slimma buys two women's wear brands

15/12/2008
Women's wear company Slimma Plc has bought two new event-wear brands - Michel Ambers and Claudia Stevens - for an undisclosed sum.

US: Kohl's and Forever 21 snap up 46 Mervyns locations

15/12/2008
Department store operator Kohl's Corporation and fellow US retailer Forever 21 have won a joint bid at auction for leaseholds to 46 retail sites run by bankrupt chain Mervyns.

US: More than half of apparel imports now come from China

15/12/2008
Preliminary figures released by the US Department of Commerce show that Chinese apparel for the first time accounted for more than 50% of US imports in November.

US: RG Barry names N Scott Weaver to top Superga post

15/12/2008
Accessories footwear marketer RG Barry Corporation has named N Scott Weaver as brand president for its licensed Superga canvas fashion footwear business in North America.

US: Textile mills qualify for economic assistance program

15/12/2008
US textile mills can now qualify for financial help to modernise their facilities after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended a program of benefits to the sector.

AUSTRALIA: Wool production to fall by 7.5% in 2008-09

12/12/2008
Australian wool production is forecast to fall in every state in 2008-09, with the total clip coming in 7.5% below last year, as poor spring rainfalls following a dry winter and autumn take their toll.

BELGIUM: EU and Brazil apparel trade groups forge links

12/12/2008
The leaders of textile and apparel trade groups in the EU and Brazil have pledged to work together to expand trade and investment between the two regions.

CANADA: Gildan to shift sock finishing as Q4 profit halves

12/12/2008
Canadian T-shirt, fleece and sock maker Gildan Activewear Inc is to phase out its sock finishing operations in the US by the middle of next year, after its fourth quarter profit nearly halved and negative market conditions look set to hit its first quarter results.

CANADA: Groupe Bikini Village losses widen in Q3

12/12/2008
Canadian swimwear retailer Groupe Bikini Village posted a net loss on continuing operations of CAD$2.1m (US$1.69m) in the third quarter, as compared to a net loss of $1.3m in Q3 last year.

CANADA: Lululemon cuts FY guidance despite Q3 profit hike

12/12/2008
Yoga-inspired apparel company Lululemon Athletica Inc has warned of weaker sales and profit for the year, despite meeting its earnings expectations for the third quarter as sales soared 34%.

INDIA: French menswear chain Celio to open first store

12/12/2008
Men's ready-to-wear fashion brand Celio will open its first store in India on Saturday (December 13), at the DLF Place shopping centre in Delhi.

Latvian makers struggle amidst economic downturn

12/12/2008
Latvia's textile and clothing industry has been hit hard by the recent reversal of the country's economic fortunes, as competitors in this labour intensive sector either close down or move production to cheaper locations. Monika Hanley reports from Riga.

UK: Gap Europe marketing VP leaves company

12/12/2008
US retail giant Gap Inc has confirmed that Clare Dobbie, a vice president of marketing at its European unit in London, left the company this week.

UK: Single clothing industry body takes shape at BCIA

12/12/2008
As part of plans to bring the British fashion and textile industry together in one streamlined organisation, UK Fashion Exports, the body that helps exporters and overseas buyers, has moved under the umbrella of the British Clothing Industry Association (BCIA).

US: Former Versace worker files lawsuit in New York

12/12/2008
The former assistant of an executive at fashion company Versace USA has filed a lawsuit in the US claiming gender discrimination, it has been reported.

US: Nike tags new basketball shoe its lightest ever

12/12/2008
US sporting goods firm Nike has unveiled the new Nike Zoom Kobe IV, described as its lightest basketball shoe ever, which will be launched in China from the start of next year.

US: Urban Outfitters names McLean as new European COO

12/12/2008
US lifestyle retailer Urban Outfitters Inc has named Andrew McLean, the president of Liz Claiborne's outlet division, to the new position of chief operating officer for its European divisions.

BOLIVIA: Four maquilas shut as US cuts trade benefits

11/12/2008
The US' decision to remove Bolivia's free-trade benefits under the ATPDEA (Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act) trade agreement has forced four textile firms to close in the South American country.

INDIA: Footwear market to profit from rising Chinese costs

11/12/2008
Leading footwear players like Adidas, Puma and Nike are likely to shift some of their purchasing and production from China to India over the next three years, according to new research, as Chinese products lose their cheap price tag and buyers turn to India for low-cost products.

SPAIN: Dogi seeks buyers for El Masnou factory

11/12/2008
Beleaguered Spanish stretch-fibres maker Dogi is seeking buyers for its fledgling factory in El Masnou, Spain, just-style has found out.

SPAIN: Inditex nine-month profit edges up 2%

11/12/2008
The opening of 456 new stores in the first nine months of its financial year has helped Spanish retailer Inditex, owner of the Zara fashion chain, to a 2% rise in profit for the period.

SPAIN: La Seda director denies takeover talk

11/12/2008
A board member at Spanish textiles and chemicals company La Seda de Barcelona (LSB) has denied he is looking to lead a buyout bid for the firm.

SRI LANKA: Makes EU GSP+ list, pending investigation

11/12/2008
The European Commission (EC) this week said 16 countries, including Sri Lanka, have qualified for the GSP+ scheme that will allow duty-free exports into the EU from 2009 to 2011.

UK: Latest fashion is key to teenage sales - research

11/12/2008
Demand for teenage fashions is likely to hold up despite the current economic downturn, new research says, as nearly half of shoppers in the 13 and 24 age group strive to follow the latest trends.

UK: Mulberry H1 profit up 6.4%, warns of lower FY

11/12/2008
British luxury brand Mulberry Group Plc today (11 December) said it expects its full-year results to be lower than last year and below current market expectations as consumer demand continues to slow.

UK: Retailers warned by OFT over price drops - report

11/12/2008
Retailers including Marks and Spencer and Arcadia Group and Marks and Spencer have reportedly been warned about competition laws after they all agreed to drop prices in line with a 2.5% VAT cut in the UK.

UK: Woolworths embarks on store closing sale

11/12/2008
UK retailer Woolworths Plc has begun a store closing sale today (11 December) at its 800 branches across the country as it looks increasingly unlikely that administrators will be able to sell the business as a going concern.

US: Cherokee Q3 profit falls 11% on lower sales

11/12/2008
Brand licensor Cherokee Inc has posted a 10.8% drop in third quarter earnings, blaming lower sales and "a difficult global retail environment."

US: To end ELVIS system for Chinese apparel imports

11/12/2008
The US government is ending its electronic visa information system for textile and apparel imports from China from the beginning of next year.

GERMANY: Wool processor to close European operations

10/12/2008
Australian agri-business firm Elders Rural Services is to close its wool processing facilities in Germany and Turkey as part of a restructuring.

JAPAN: Toray develops new nanofibres for woven fabrics

10/12/2008
Japanese textile maker Toray Industries has developed nano-scale processing technology that impregnates woven fabrics with the kinds of functional agents that give added features like moisture absorption and heat retention.

UK: Greg Norman Collection installs apparel business system

10/12/2008
Severn Under Ltd, the European distributor of Greg Norman's Golf clothing Range, is to use the apparel business system from Redrose Software to help control sales.

UK: JJB appoints adviser as debt talks continue

10/12/2008
UK sporting goods chain JJB Sports will later today (10 December) update the market on its trading after a fall in share prices last week.

UK: JJB reports 7.5% sales fall, repays GBP20m to banks

10/12/2008
Sporting goods retailer JJB Sports today (10 December) said its total sales in the 19 weeks to 7 December were 7.5% lower than the same period last year, and that it has agreed to pay GBP20m (US$29.6m) to three of its lenders.

UK: Marks & Spencer adds antimicrobial to top sock line

10/12/2008
Marks & Spencer (M&S), the UK's largest clothing retailer with shops and franchises in over 34 countries around the world, has added an antimicrobial treatment to its top-selling sock line in Europe.

US: Apparel groups fear new rule for plant based fibres

10/12/2008
A group of apparel and textile organisations is calling for changes to new reporting requirements that come into force next week on all plant and plant products imported into the US - including textile items made from plant based fibres.

US: Augusta Sportswear opts for Logility Voyager Solutions

10/12/2008
Manufacturer of team apparel Augusta Sportswear has selected Logility Voyager Solutions' software tools for forecasting, visibility into customer demand and inventory management.

US: Footstar chairman takes on wind-down role

10/12/2008
Discount footwear retailer Footstar has put its chairman in charge of the winding down of the company prior to the closure of its concession in Kmart stores at the end of the year.

US: Frederick's of Hollywood in US$5.3m Q1 loss

10/12/2008
Lingerie specialist Frederick's of Hollywood has pledged to cut costs further after reporting a US$5.3m loss in its first quarter ended 25 October.

US: G-III lowers guidance despite Q3 profit boost

10/12/2008
G-III Apparel Group has lowered its full-year guidance, anticipating a difficult end to the year after third quarter profit rose 21% to US$28.8m.

US: GMI uses Simparel software for supply chain

10/12/2008
Gold Medal International (GMI), a distributor of socks, sheer goods and accessories to retailers across North America, has implemented Simparel's new supply chain software.

US: JC Penney drops under-fire freight line, says union

10/12/2008
US retailer JC Penney has stopped using Oak Harbor Freight Lines to ship its merchandise in the western US, according to US union Teamsters.

US: Kennedy resigns PacSun divisional presidency

10/12/2008
Thomas M Kennedy, division president of PacSun, has resigned his post "to pursue other interests", retailer Pacific Sunwear of California has announced.

US: Kohl's adds Mudd branded apparel to line-up

10/12/2008
Department store operator Kohl's Corporation is to be the sole US retailer of Mudd branded apparel, accessories and jewellery after signing a multi-year licensing agreement with the line's owner, Iconix Brand Group.

US: Neiman Marcus Q1 profit falls 84%

10/12/2008
Upscale department store Neiman Marcus Inc has seen its first quarter profit slump after being hit by lower sales at its stores.

US: Oxford plans cost-cutting after Q3 profit slashed

10/12/2008
Apparel group Oxford Industries is planning to cut employment costs and capital spending after the company's third quarter profit plummeted 65% to US$4.8m.

US: Retail Ventures Q3 profit slashed to $8m

10/12/2008
Retail Ventures saw its third quarter profit slashed to US$8m from $82.4m for the same period last year, despite a rise in sales.

US: Salzburger named VF International president

10/12/2008
Karl Heinz Salzburger has been promoted to the position of corporate vice president and president of VF International, and named as a member of VF Corporation's operating committee.

AUSTRALIA: $2.5m in grants for clothing and footwear firms

09/12/2008
The Australian government is urging small businesses in the textile, clothing and footwear sector to apply for grants worth AUD2.5m (US$1.6m) in the latest funding round of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Small Business Program.

AUSTRALIA: Pacific Brands cuts FY dividend

09/12/2008
Apparel and footwear maker Pacific Brands is slashing its full-year dividend in a move it describes as a "prudent response" to deteriorating economic and retail conditions.

BELGIUM: EU approves new Belarus trade deal

09/12/2008
The European Union (EU) Council of Ministers has approved a proposed expansion of the textiles and clothing agreement between the EU and Belarus.